Cooling Device for a Vehicle

Abstract

A cooling device for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle has a current-generating component that is embodied as a thermoelectric generator and has a side facing a cooling stream passing through the cooling device. The cooling stream dissipates heat generated by an operating unit of the motor vehicle. The cooling device is embodied as a vehicle radiator. The current-generating component is integrated into the vehicle radiator. The current-generating component and a cooling web of the vehicle radiator form a common assembly.

1 . A cooling device for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, comprising:
 a current-generating component that is embodied as a thermoelectric generator and has a side facing a cooling stream passing through the cooling device,   wherein the cooling stream dissipates heat generated by an operating unit of the motor vehicle;   wherein the cooling device comprises a vehicle radiator;   wherein said current-generating component is integrated into said vehicle radiator;   wherein said current-generating component and a cooling web of said vehicle radiator form a common assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The cooling device according to  claim 1 , wherein said cooling web forms said current-generating component. 
     
     
         3 . The cooling device according to  claim 2 , wherein said cooling web is of a two-layer configuration comprising a first layer and a second layer, wherein said first layer is comprised of a light metal and said second layer is comprised of a thermoelectric material. 
     
     
         4 . The cooling device according to  claim 2 , wherein said cooling web is of a three-layer configuration comprising an inner layer and two outer layers between which said inner layer is arranged, wherein said two outer layers are comprised of a light metal and said inner layer is comprised of a thermoelectric material. 
     
     
         5 . The cooling device according to  claim 1 , wherein said current-generating component is a separate component that is contacting an exterior wall of said cooling web. 
     
     
         6 . The cooling device according to  claim 5 , wherein said current-generating component is applied as a laminate onto said exterior wall of said cooling web. 
     
     
         7 . The cooling device according to  claim 1 , wherein said current-generating component has a mirror-symmetrical configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The cooling device according to  claim 1 , wherein said vehicle radiator comprises cooling stream conduits in which said cooling stream flows, wherein said current-generating component is arranged between two neighboring ones of said cooling stream conduits. 
     
     
         9 . The cooling device according to  claim 1 , wherein said cooling web is undulated. 
     
     
         10 . A motor vehicle comprising a cooling device according to  claim 1 .